Mel Cooke, STAR Writer

The coffin of Roy Shirley rests to one side of the stage at Oakton Park, Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, on Sunday morning, as singer Roy Shirley was given a musical send-off. - Ricardo Makyn Photos

Live music filled the air and a light brown coffin rested to one side of the stage at Oakton Park, Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, on Sunday morning, as singer Roy Shirley was given a musical send-off.

He died in England on July 17.

Indeed unique

Many members of the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA) performed to the music of Unique Vision Band in honour of the man whom eulogist Keith Brown said "was indeed different. He was indeed unique".

Ossie D gave a delightfully accurate imitation, both in voice and movement, of Shirley during the service itself. All that was missing was the collar reaching for the sky.

"Whenever I perform I represent the high priest," Ossie D said, adjusting his voice to Shirley's slightly nasal, semi-querulous tones to do Get On Down. And he did Shirley's distinctive dance, arms stiffened and extended straight down, shoulders lifting alternately and rhythmically, chin tucked into the chest and legs lifting with the arms, as those gathered for the celebration cheered.

'Don't die, him live'

Singer Ken Booth (left) greets fellow entertainer Boris Gardner at the funeral service for the late Roy Shirley held at the Oakton, Park Half-Way Tree, St Andrew Entertainment Complex on Sunday.

It was so good that Ken Boothe, who sang Because He is always there for his former partner in The Leaders, said "Roy Shirley don't die, him live", pointing to Ossie D. And there was laughter as Keith Brown said the eulogy had been written before he saw Ossie D perform, but he would read a particular section anyway.

"Roy Shirley could never be successfully imitated or duplicated," he read and those gathered for the celebration laughed.

Also during the service Bunny Brown raised his voice high in Amazing Grace and Elaine Peart sent hers deep for Don't Forget To Remember Me.

And before the actual service, with Junior Sinclair hosting, Macko did Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Charmaine Limonious delivered In The Morning of My Life, Dwight Pinkney performed Rivers of Babylon, Class Act contributed Should I, Bagga Case contributed The Prayer and Ras Mandito asked all to Imagine.

Connection between generations

Clancy Eccles Jr. made the connection between generations, saying that he first saw Shirley perform when he was eight or nine years old. "I couldn't believe someone could perform like that. It was intense," he said, before doing Gone Too Soon.

And as he ended the song, Christopher MacDonald ran up to the bandstand and provided the final chords from the keyboard for a good ending.

Sustainable appreciation

The Government brought Shirley's body home and Colin Leslie, representing the Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, said that there is a determination to show sustainable appreciation for the pioneers of Jamaican music "as soon as our finances permit".

Funeral arrangements were handled by Taylor's Funeral Supplies and the Rev. Dr Lloyd Maxwell, Minister Heather-Dawn Brown and Minister Alroy Love officiated.

Dwight Pinkney makes his contribution to the musical tributes offered at the funeral service for the late Roy Shirley.